being a tour guide in Yellowstone National park
Silex Spring, at Fountain Paint Pots.
As mentioned in my other blog, I moved to Wyoming this summer to work on a dude ranch on North Fork Highway, 20 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. That changed after I met a girl while rock climbing. We talked about our jobs, I complained about mine, and she talked excitedly about her awesome gig. She told me she was a tour guide in Yellowstone for a local tour company. She then explained that she was (hopefully) leaving soon to move to London and be with her husband, leaving an open spot for someone to replace her for the rest of the summer. My friend gave me her bosses number, we met up at a coffee shop one day and agreed that I could take her spot when she left. I was ecstatic.
The next day I gave my notice at the ranch and booked a trip to Puerto Rico as something to do between jobs since my friend wouldn’t be leaving for a few weeks. While in Puerto Rico, I spent all my free time watching Yellowstone documentaries, watching youtube videos on how to be a guide, and listening to podcasts. When I got back, I started training which was essentially just ride alongs with the other guides. Essentially all other spare time I had, I was reading the guide training book, trail guides, books from the library and discussing the information with my co-workers. The process took a lot of hard work and studying, but I eventually felt very confident with the information. After three training days, I did my first solo trip with guests; everything went great, and I finished that day feeling very proud of myself for the amount of information I had grasped.
After all this studying and preparation, I realized how aligned this job was with the things I love. Some of those things being education, nature, and talking to/meeting people. I do truly enjoy doing my job, the 12+ hour days are long, but a good night sleep before makes it so much easier. This job never gets boring, I see different animals frequently, thermal features change on the daily, and it is usually fun to get to know the guests.
Thermophiles at Black Sand Basin
During the tours, I have seen bears, bison, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, white pelicans, and many other amazing creatures. I’ve probably watched old faithful erupt 15 times now, and I’ve gotten to witness some of the uncommon geysers erupting which has been a real treat. One thing that is always so fun to see is the guests’ reaction to seeing bison for the first time. For some reason or another they are SO excited to see the bison, I’ve seen guests launch themselves across other guests to get a picture or a better look at the bison. It is quite entertaining to see their reactions, people also have quite a look on their face when they see the grand canyon of Yellowstone for the first time.
Here is a list of the best things to see in Yellowstone, I would recommend saving these locations into your google maps for future visits! This is in order for if you are driving from Cody, WY.
Mud Volcano
Hayden Valley
Artists Point
Brink of the Upper Falls
Norris Geyser Basin
Firehole Canyon scenic drive
Artists Paint Pots
Grand Prismatic Overlook (less then 2 mile hike from parking lot)
Black Sand Basin
Old Faithful Inn/call for time of eruption
West Thumb Basin
I would honestly recommend taking a tour of Yellowstone for your first time, then maybe going back to dig a little deeper, do a couple hikes or camp. Guide trips can be expensive, but the round trip from Cody is around 250 miles round trip, so gas needs to be considered. On top of that, the information that a guide has is an accumulation of knowledge that has taken him or her at least weeks to acquire that you will receive in one day. There is definitely value to it, but I understand those who want to do it on their own terms.
Anyone who has questions or is considering traveling to Yellowstone, please feel free to contact me! I would love to help plan a trip or just give some insider tips!